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The muses of Bali

Elegant dances based on fascinating stories and gracious women – when you visit Bali you'll be overwhelmed by the rituals and ceremonies. Not surprisingly, the island is a refuge for artists and other creative types. Balinese beauties are an important source of inspiration for paintings, wood carvings and other types of art.

Enchanting Ubud is the place on Bali to which most artists flock. Situated higher in the mountains, surrounded by rainforest and delightful rice paddies, it is slightly cooler here than on the coast. Many travellers who came looking for happiness never left, and the town has become an important centre for Balinese visual arts, dance and music. Around Ubud there are various temple complexes and authentic villages.

 Magical Ubud

Denpasar-Bali

Symbolic dances

In Hindu culture, every elegant dance tells a story in dedication to the gods. Balinese children grow up with these centuries-old traditions from a young age. With perfect body control, up to and including the eyes, the various characters are embodied by dancers who all wear stunning costumes. The dancers practice their movements for hours each day to ensure a perfect performance. The source is divine inspiration – the only thing that ensures perfection.
The musical accompaniment for many Balinese dances is a gamelan orchestra, consisting mainly of musicians with typical drums and xylophones. The subject of the dances is usually a part of the Ramayana, the famous Hindu epos about Prince Rama who tries to save his wife Sita from the demon Ravana. The Kecak, for example, is an energetic dance with powerful movements. Performed by 50 men with loud guttural sounds instead of music, it is a spectacular experience.

“The flexibility and elegance of Balinese dancers is amazing.”

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Spiritual treasures

Art for world peace

The largest Balinese art collection is on show in the Rudana museum in Ubud, established by a local art enthusiast and his wife. The museum is based on the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, in which the world of spirits, people and nature go hand in hand. The philosophy states that art contributes to world peace, prosperity and friendship, and the collection features a blend of spiritual, cultural and natural treasures.

Architecture and art combined

When Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes came to Bali in 1932, he fell in love with the beautiful dancer Ni Polok. They married 3 years later and the couple lived in Sanur when it was still a small fisherman’s village. Now a museum, their house is a fine example of Balinese architecture. It features paintings that Le Mayeur did during his travels to Africa, India, Italy, France and the South Pacific, as well as depictions of daily life on Bali and the island’s lovely ladies, including Le Mayeur’s own wife. This is a wonderful insight into the lives of an artistic and creative couple.